JP3568608B2 - Copier management device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a copier management device, and more particularly to a copier management device for managing a copier connected to a host computer via a line.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In copiers, especially color copiers, care must be taken to prevent counterfeiting of bills, securities and the like. For example, there are copiers configured to specify the copier that made the copy by printing the model number or serial number of the copier on a copy, and to specify the user.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In such a copying machine, it is possible to determine the used copying machine from a serial number printed on forged bills or securities. However, if the copying machine is improperly moved due to theft or the like, it is impossible to specify the perpetrator who made the forgery.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to prevent a copy from being made using a copying machine that has been improperly moved due to theft or the like, and to prevent forgery of bills, securities, and the like.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A copying machine management device according to the present invention includes a usage right memory, a copy permission unit, a usage right requesting unit, and a usage right setting signal receiving unit . The usage right memory has two states indicating whether the copying operation of the copying machine is permitted or prohibited, and has a usage right flag that is set to a copying operation prohibited state when the copying machine is turned on. Copy permission means, usage right flag prohibits the copying operation if the state of the copying operation prohibited, to allow copying operation if the state of the copying operation permission. Usage right request unit after power-on of the copying machine, and transmits the benefits for right setting request to the host computer via a predetermined line to a copying machine, to end the communication. The usage right setting signal receiving means receives a usage right setting signal from a host computer which has received the usage right setting request via a line preset in the copying machine, and when the usage right setting signal is normally received, the usage right flag is set. Is set to a copy operation permitted state.
[0006]
Here, the usage right memory can be constituted by a volatile memory without power backup.
In addition, the configuration may further include a password memory, a password requesting unit, a password receiving unit, and a password checking unit. In this case, the password memory stores the user password. The password requesting means requests a password input when the power of the copier is turned on. The password receiving means receives a password input from the outside. The password checking means checks the password received from the password receiving means with the user password stored in the password memory.
[0007]
Further, when the result of the verification by the password verification unit matches, the usage right request unit can issue a usage right setting request to the host computer.
The password memory is preferably constituted by a volatile memory backed up by a power supply.
[0008]
[Action]
In the copying machine management apparatus according to the present invention, the usage right flag in the usage right memory is set to a state where copying operation is prohibited when the power of the copying machine is turned on. The usage right requesting means communicates with the host computer after the power of the copier is turned on, makes a usage right setting request, and temporarily suspends the line connection.
[0009]
The host computer receives the usage right setting request from the usage right requesting means, reads out the line number of the copying machine from the storage means, and performs communication. When the communication from the communication means on the host computer side to the copying machine is normally performed, the usage right setting signal is transmitted so that the usage right setting request is a valid request and the usage right flag is set to the other state. .
[0010]
On the copying machine side, when the usage right flag is set to the other state, the copy permitting means permits the copying operation. Therefore, the copying machine cannot perform the copying operation until the usage right setting signal is received from the usage right setting means, and the copying machine is improperly moved and a line other than the line number stored in the storage means is changed. If so, the copying operation is disabled.
[0011]
If the right-of-use memory is volatile memory that has not been backed up, the contents of the right-of-use flag are lost when the copier is turned off. Until the use right setting signal is received from the computer, the copying operation can be prohibited, and illegal use can be prevented.
Further, when the password collating means is provided, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use of the copying machine by a third party who does not know the user password.
[0012]
In the case where the usage right setting request is made when the verification result of the password verification unit matches, it is possible to prevent unauthorized use of the copier without moving it, and to prevent the line from being stored in the storage unit. It is possible to prevent the use right setting signal from being received using a line other than the number, and to prevent unauthorized use of the copying machine.
When the password memory is composed of a volatile memory backed up by a power supply, the security can be enhanced by sequentially changing the user password.
[0013]
【Example】
An embodiment of a copier management apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the copying machine 1 is connected to a host computer 3 via a public line 2. As shown, the host computer 3 can be configured to manage a plurality of copying machines 1,1. The copier 1 includes an exposure unit for reading a document, an image forming unit for forming a toner image of the read document, a paper feeding unit for supplying a sheet to the image forming unit, and an image forming unit formed on a sheet. The image forming apparatus has a fixing unit that heats and fixes an image.
[0014]
Further, the copying machine 1 is provided with a control unit 11 shown in FIG. The control unit 11 is configured by a microcomputer system including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, various drivers, and IOs. An operation panel 12 is connected to the control unit 11. The operation panel 12 is disposed on the upper surface of the copying machine main body, and includes an input key unit and a display unit including a liquid crystal display element or an LED. The control unit 11 is further connected to a paper supply unit 13 that supplies paper from an attached paper supply cassette or a bypass table to the image forming unit.
[0015]
The control unit 11 is connected to a usage right memory 14 composed of a RAM that is not backed up by a power supply. An area for storing the usage right flag is set at a predetermined address in the usage right memory 14. For example, when the usage right flag in the usage right memory 14 is “0”, the copying operation of the copying machine 1 is prohibited, and when the usage right flag is “1”, the copying operation of the copying machine 1 is permitted. Has become. The prohibition of the copying operation can be realized by, for example, restricting an operation signal to the sheet feeding unit 13. Further, a password memory 15 composed of a RAM backed up by a power supply is connected to the control unit 11. The password memory 15 stores a user password set by a user or a host computer. The control unit 11 is further connected to a public line via a network control unit (hereinafter, referred to as NCU) 16 and a modem 17.
[0016]
The host computer includes a CPU 21, a RAM 22, a ROM 23, and an input / output interface 24 connected to the CPU 21, as shown in FIG. A display CRT 25, an input keyboard 26, a storage device 28, and the like are also connected to the CPU 21. The storage device 28 is constituted by, for example, a hard disk drive or the like, and has an area for storing the line number of each of the copying machines 1 and 1 connected via a public line. The input / output interface 24 is provided with input / output terminals such as RS232C, and is connected to a public line via a communication modem 27.
[0017]
Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.
Copying machine The copying machine 1 operates as shown in FIG.
When the main switch of the copying machine 1 is turned on, various parameters are initialized in step S1. Here, the memory area of the usage right memory 14 in which the usage right flag is stored is set to “0”. At the same time, a variable k for counting the number of password inputs is reset to “0”. In step S2, a display prompting the user to input a password is displayed on the display unit of the operation panel 12.
[0018]
In step S3, it is determined whether or not the user has input a password. Here, a password input from an input key unit provided on the operation panel 12 is accepted. When the password input by the user has been received, the process proceeds to step S4. In step S4, a variable k indicating the number of times of password input is incremented.
[0019]
In step S5, the password input in step S3 is compared with the user password stored in the password memory 15 to determine whether they match. If it is determined in step S5 that the passwords match, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S6, communication is performed with the host computer 3 via the NCU 16 and the modem 17. In step S7, a use right setting request signal is transmitted to the host computer 3. In step S8, the communication with the host computer 3 ends.
[0020]
In step S9, it is determined whether or not there is a call from the host computer 3 via the public line 2. If there is a call from the host computer 3, the process proceeds to step S10. In step S10, a signal transmitted by the host computer 3 is received, and processing is performed based on the signal. For example, when the usage right setting signal is received, “1” is set in the area where the usage right flag is stored in the usage right memory 14.
[0021]
In step S11, the use right flag in the use right memory 14 is checked, and it is determined whether or not the use right currently exists. If there is no right to use at present, the flow shifts to step S9 to wait for an incoming call from the host computer 3. If it is determined in step S11 that there is a right to use, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, a copy operation preparation process such as controlling the fixing unit to a predetermined temperature is performed so that a normal copy operation can be performed.
[0022]
In step S13, it is determined whether or not the input key section of the operation panel 12 has been operated to instruct a copy operation. If a copy operation has been instructed, the process proceeds to step S14. In step S14, a copy operation is performed according to the operation received in step S13. In step S15, other processing is performed. In step S16, it is determined whether or not the main switch has been turned off. If the main switch of the copying machine 1 has not been turned off, the process proceeds to step S13. When the main switch is turned off in step S16, the process ends, and the power supply to each unit including the power supplied to the usage right memory 14 is turned off.
[0023]
If it is determined in step S5 that the password verifications do not match, the process proceeds to step S17. In step S17, a variable k indicating the number of times of password input is compared with a predetermined value n. The predetermined value n is a threshold value for invalidating the user password in the password memory 15 when the number of password inputs exceeds this value, and is set to, for example, “3”. If the variable k is smaller than the predetermined value n, the process proceeds to step S2. If it is determined in step S17 that the value of the variable k is equal to or greater than the predetermined value n, the process proceeds to step S18. In step S18, the user password stored in the password memory 15 is deleted. Thereafter, the processing of the copying machine 1 ends.
[0024]
Host Computer FIG. 5 shows the operation of the host computer 3 when there is a use right setting request from the copying machine 1.
In step S21, it is determined whether or not there is a use right setting request from copying machine 1. If there is no usage right setting request, the process proceeds to step S25. If it is determined in step S21 that there has been a use right setting request, the process proceeds to step S22. In step S22, the line number of the corresponding copier 1 is read out from the storage device 28, and a call for this line number is made via the modem 27. In the step S23, it is determined whether or not the telephone communication with the copying machine 1 of the line number read in the step S22 is normally performed. If a normal call cannot be made, the process proceeds to step S25. If it is determined in step S23 that the normal communication has been successful, the process proceeds to step S24. In step S24, a use right setting signal is transmitted to copying machine 1 that has successfully communicated. In step S25, other processing is performed.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
In the copier management apparatus according to the present invention, when the power of the copier is turned on, the use right flag is set in a direction to prohibit the copying operation. When a usage right setting request is issued after the power of the copier is turned on, the host computer reads the line number of the copier stored in the storage means and performs communication, and sets the usage right only when communication is normally performed. Since the signal is transmitted to the copier, if the copier is moved improperly and communicates using a line with a different line number, the copying operation is not permitted and Use of the copying machine can be prevented.
[0026]
If the right-of-use memory is composed of volatile memory without power backup, the right-of-use flag in the right-of-use memory is lost when the power is turned off, and a valid right-of-use setting process is performed when the power of the copier is turned on. Until the copying operation is permitted, illegal copying operation can be prevented.
If a password memory, a password requesting means, a password receiving means, and a password collating means are further provided, a password check is performed after the power of the copier is turned on, and any operation is performed when the received password does not match the user password. Can be prohibited, and an illegal copying operation can be prevented.
[0027]
If the system is configured to issue a usage right setting request to the host computer when the verification result of the password verification unit matches, unauthorized copying by a third party can be prevented, and even if the copier is moved improperly. It is possible to prevent unauthorized copying.
When the password memory is composed of a volatile memory that is backed up by a power supply, the password can be sequentially changed, and security can be improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a copier management apparatus to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration block diagram of the copying machine.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration block diagram of the host computer.
FIG. 4 is a control flowchart of the copying machine.
FIG. 5 is a control flowchart of a host computer.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier 2 Public line 3 Host computer 11 Control part 12 Operation panel 13 Paper supply part 14 Usage right memory 15 Password memory 16 NCU
17 Modem 21 CPU
22 RAM
23 ROM
24 Interface 25 CRT
26 keyboard 27 modem 28 storage device

Claims (5)

A copier management device that manages a copier connected to a host computer via a line,
A right-of-use memory having two states indicating whether to permit or prohibit the copying operation of the copying machine and having a usage right flag set to a copying operation prohibited state when the copying machine is powered on;
Copy permission means for prohibiting a copy operation when the use right flag is in a copy operation prohibited state and permitting a copy operation when the copy operation permission state is provided;
After power-on of the copying machine, a usage right request unit via said predetermined channel to the copying machine sends an advantage for right setting request to the host computer, to end the communication,
A use right setting signal is received from the host computer that has received the use right setting request via a line preset to the copying machine, and when the use right setting signal is normally received, the use right flag is permitted to be copied. Use right setting signal receiving means for setting to the state of
Copier management device equipped with 2. The copier management device according to claim 1, wherein the usage right memory is configured by a volatile memory without a power supply backup. A password memory for storing a user password,
A password requesting means for requesting a password after turning on the copier;
A password receiving means for receiving a password input from outside;
Password matching means for checking the password received from the password receiving means with a user password stored in the password memory,
The copier management device according to claim 1, further comprising: 4. The copier management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said usage right requesting unit issues a usage right setting request to a host computer when the result of the comparison by said password matching unit matches. The copier management device according to claim 3, wherein the password memory includes a volatile memory backed up by a power supply.

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